2025 Toyota 4Runner

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Transmission overheating on off-road climbs All years

  What to check: Ask whether a transmission temperature warning has ever come on, and on what kind of climb.

  Seven owners in two threads report transmission temperature warnings or lost power on long or slow dirt climbs, mostly in 2WD or 4Hi, and several say 4Lo kept temperatures down. No dealer in the threads offered a fix.

  Sources ^1,2

• Clunk on the 1-2 shift All years One source so far

  What to check: Drive it from a cold start and feel for a clunk or hunting between first and second gear.

  Owner reports with no bulletin or recall, per one news site. Members say it is worst when cold and often fades.

  Sources ³

• Front brake squeal Early production, 2025–2026 One source so far

  What to check: Listen for brake noise, and ask whether bulletin TSB-0006-26 was done.

  The news site reports a Toyota bulletin for front brake noise on early trucks, repaired under warranty.

  Sources ³

• Hood flutter All years One source so far

  What to check: Watch the hood at highway speed and over bumps.

  Thirteen owners in one thread report it, on the SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro and Trailhunter. Most call it slight, two say theirs does not do it, and no dealer offered a fix.

  Sources ⁴

• Rattles and loose trim All years

  What to check: Drive on rough pavement and listen at the rear window, the doors and the rear spoiler.

  Members of one thread report a loose rear spoiler, a rear window rattle and creaking door panels. One says the dealer fixed a rattle and a vibration. Cars.com's long-term hybrid had a front air dam that kept coming off and an early moonroof leak.

  Sources ^5,6

• Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto drop out All years

  What to check: Pair a phone and confirm it connects again after a restart.

  Cars.com's testers call the connection finicky on both phone types. Members report the same, some only with a low phone battery.

  Sources ^7,5

Recalls

• 25V595000 2025

  A software fault at start-up can stop the instrument panel showing speed and warning lights.⁸

Complaints

Owners filed 60 complaints about the 2025 with NHTSA.

3 said there had been a crash and 2 a fire.

The parts named most

• Service brakes 24
• Unknown or other 9
• Electrical system 8
• Structure 7
• Steering 4

and 14 other parts

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. These are owners' own reports, counted by the parts they named; one complaint can name several. NHTSA's list

Crash-test stars

• 2025 Toyota 4Runner SUV 4WD Overall 4 of 5. Front: driver 4, passenger 4. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 3.
• 2025 Toyota 4Runner SUV AWD Overall 4 of 5. Front: driver 4, passenger 4. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 3.
• 2025 Toyota 4Runner SUV RWD Overall 4 of 5. Front: driver 4, passenger 4. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 4.

Copied from NHTSA's ratings on 23 October 2026.

Sources

1. 4Runner6G forum (transmission overheating)
2. Toyota-4Runner.org (2025 engine problems)
3. Pickup Truck +SUV Talk (known problems)
4. 4Runner6G forum (hood flutter)
5. 4Runner6G forum (issues at three months)
6. Cars.com long-term test (15,000 miles)
7. Cars.com long-term test (multimedia)
8. NHTSA recalls (2025 4Runner)